The 2016 Volkswagen Caddy people-mover range has arrived in Australia, at the same time as the regular cargo- and crew-van derivatives. Available in regular (SWB) and Maxi (LWB) guises, the Volkswagen Caddy people-mover can be had in five- and seven-seat variations, and is priced between $32,490 and $37,990 plus on-road costs. Drivetrain All variations of the Caddy are powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol Golf engine making 92kW at 4800rpm and 220Nm between 1500 and 2500rpm. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle kicks off at 6.0 litres per 100km. This engine is matched to a seven-speed DSG automatic as standard, with torque sent to the front wheels. There will, however, be more to come. With the global stop-sale on Caddy diesels in effect, the oil-burners won’t arrive until early 2016. The 2.0 TDI versions will arrive as soon as the requisite software flash to clear them from NOx emissions issues — one of many VWs affected — has been rolled out. Platform and re-skin Rather than adopting Volkswagen’s ubiquitous MQB platform, the fourth-generation Caddy is based on a revised version of the previous model’s PQ35 front-wheel drive underpinnings, which it shares in part with the Beetle, Jetta, Scirocco and Tiguan. Under the redesigned skin is a familiar MacPherson strut with double wishbone and anti-roll bar front suspension setup and a rigid rear axle with leaf springs. This is the same as the Caddy van. The electromechanical steering offers a turning circle as low as 11.1 metres on the SWB (12.2m on the Maxi). The typically evolutionary exterior borrows heavily from the Polo and Golf though, gaining a larger front grille with a more prominent VW badge, a more stylised bumper and lower fascia, squarer tail-lights and sharper tailgate lines. The people-mover version now gets its own unique bumpers and rear-view mirrors to add some extra visual differentiation. Interior The cabin likewise takes much from its passenger contemporaries, from its steering wheel to its range of touchscreen options. But there are also van-style hard and easily cleaned plastics and tons of storage cubbies. These include a big open tray on top of the dash, an open area under the fascia and above the glovebox, big door pockets with 1.0L bottle holders, sliding drawers under the seats and a big shelf stretched above the windscreen. As with the Caddy van variants, there are two body sizes — the SWB is 4408mm long, 2065mm wide, 1822mm tall and sits on a 2682mm wheelbase. The Maxi has a 324mm longer wheelbase and is 470mm longer. The trump card is the seating. The base Caddy people-mover seats five and offers 750L behind for storage. You can option a third row of seats, leaving 190L of cargo space. The Maxi versions come standard with seven seats (2+3+2), with a huge 1350L behind the second row and a still massive 530L behind the third. That kills the average large SUV. The rear rows are accessed by sliding side doors. Standard equipment There are more standard features found on the people-mover than the vans, including curtain airbags (only for the second row), reversing sensors and a rear-view camera. The Caddy managed a four-star Euro NCAP score. SWB and Maxi Trendline Six airbags Multi-collision braking system ISOFIX x 2 Reverse-view camera and sensors Daytime running lights Dual sliding doors 16-inch steel wheels and full-size spare Rear air vents Electric windows Cruise control with speed limiter 5.0-inch touchscreen USB/SD/Bluetooth phone and audio Three-spoke steering wheel audio/cruise/phone buttons Digital speedo Cloth seats with driver’s height adjustment Maxi Comfortline extras Auto headlights Rear privacy glass Glossy black exterior bits and roof rails 16-inch alloy wheels Climate control 6.3-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Silver/leather/chrome cabin highlights Higher-end cloth seat trim Some options Cherry Red paint — $190 Metallic/Pearl paint — $890 Third-row bench on SWB Trendline — $990 16-inch alloys on Trendlines — $990 Luggage cover on Trendlines — $190 Trailer hitch pack — $290 App Connect on 6.3-inch screen (Trendline) — $1290 Same 6.3-inch screen with sat-nav and App Connect — $2090 Sat-nav on Comfortline — $1190 Driver Assistance Package with autonomous brakes, radar cruise control and cornering fog lights — $2260 Exterior Upgrade Package with 17-inch alloys and silver roof rails — $2060 Pricing (plus on-road costs) Caddy Trendline TSI220 DSG — $32,490 CaddyMaxi Trendline TSI220 DSG — $34,990 CaddyMaxi Comfortline TSI220 DSG — $37,990